ricin

[rahy-sin, ris-in]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, poisonous, protein powder from the bean of the castor-oil plant.

ricin

/ ˈrɪs-, ˈraɪsɪn /

noun

1. biochem a highly toxic protein, a lectin, derived from castor-oil seeds: used in experimental cancer therapy

ricin

1. An extremely poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean. Ricin inhibits protein synthesis in cells, and is used as a biochemical reagent and in cancer research.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ricin¹

1895–1900; < New Latin Ricinus name of genus, Latin: castor-oil plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of ricin¹

C19: from New Latin Ricinus genus name, from Latin: castor-oil plant

Example Sentences

Other disturbing details included online research into terrorist atrocities and his purchase of weapons online, including a bow and arrow, knives, machetes and the ingredients he later used to make ricin.

Read more on BBC

Rudakubana, now 18, also admitted producing the biological toxin ricin in his bedroom and possession of terrorist material relating to an article containing an al-Qaeda training manual.

Read more on BBC

He was jailed in January at Liverpool Crown Court for three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and other offences including producing ricin, possessing terrorist material, and possessing a knife.

Read more on BBC

Police officers discovered ricin pulp and a copy of an al-Qaeda manual at Rudakubana's house, but did not find any clear ideological reason for his attack, so did not classify it as terrorism.

Read more on BBC

Three days later, the lab confirmed that the suspicious substance was the poison ricin, but the public was not told.

Read more on BBC